Stories tracking Jacksonville’s downtown growth, redevelopment projects, and efforts to revitalize the city’s urban core.

Featured image for “Jake Gordon to step down as CEO after 11 years at Downtown Vision Inc.”

Jake Gordon, CEO of Jacksonville’s Downtown Vision Inc., will step down as of Sept. 30. | Downtown Vision Inc.

Jake Gordon to step down as CEO after 11 years at Downtown Vision Inc.

Gordon said it was time for new perspectives at Downtown Vision, a nonprofit that aims to revitalize Downtown.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “European Street Café to open 4th site at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown”

A rendering of the planned second phase of Riverfront Plaza, showing a beer garden and restaurant. | City of Jacksonville/Perkins & Will

European Street Café to open 4th site at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown

The restaurant will open in the second phase of Riverfront Plaza, which is under construction.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Will the Jacksonville Armada ever have a stadium?”

An illustration shows the proposed Jacksonville Armada soccer stadium in Downtown Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record

#AskJAXTDY | Will the Jacksonville Armada ever have a stadium?

The Jacksonville Armada promised a new stadium in Downtown Jacksonville by 2025. It has not been built yet.…

By Simone Endress

Featured image for “Demolition permit issued to begin work toward Downtown Publix”

A sign at the former First Baptist Church auditorium at 119 W. Beaver St. lists a Publix as coming soon. | Ric Anderson, Jacksonville Daily Record

Demolition permit issued to begin work toward Downtown Publix

Gateway Jax plans to replace a former First Baptist Church auditorium with a multi-use tower including a Publix.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Former JEA headquarters sold for $1M; 180 residences planned”

Plans for The Jewel at 21 West, the former JEA headquarters campus in Downtown Jacksonville, include street-level retail space. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Former JEA headquarters sold for $1M; 180 residences planned

Live Oak Contracting will convert the JEA building into residences, rooftop amenities and retail space.…

By Joe Lister - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Incoming City Council president questions grant for Downtown Publix”

City Councilman Nick Howland during a Finance Committee budget hearing. | Casmira Harrison, Jacksonville Today

Incoming City Council president questions grant for Downtown Publix

Incoming Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland supports a Downtown Publix, but he questioned a cash incentive.…

By Mike Mendenhall and Steven Ponson

Featured image for “Demolition begins at MOSH as museum continues move to Northbank”

Demolition begins at MOSH as museum continues move to Northbank

MOSH’s walls have been partly demolished, windows removed and portions of the interior gutted.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “THE FOOD SECTION | Public incentives for Downtown Jax restaurants, bars pick up ”

Dorothy's Downtown was one a growing number of recent restaurant recipients of public incentives under the Downtown Investment Authority's Retail Improvement Program. Dorothy's received $167,380 (48% of its total development cost) in 2024. | Hanna Raskin

THE FOOD SECTION | Public incentives for Downtown Jax restaurants, bars pick up

A dedicated “retail enhancement” fund is increasingly propping up restaurants that choose to open in Downtown Jacksonville.…

By Hanna Raskin

Featured image for “Culinary Institute eyes San Antonio as model for Jacksonville campus”

A rendering shows the $160 million hotel, convention center and office project proposed by Corner Lot and investment partner Aspect Holdings LLC on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Culinary Institute eyes San Antonio as model for Jacksonville campus

City Council voted to endorse a future $35 million incentives deal for a riverfront high-rise anchored by the Culinary Institute.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Gateway Jax: For Pearl Square to work, it has to be done ‘all at once’”

Gateway Jax Inc. Bryan Moll gives a tour of the nearly $1 billion Pearl Square development site on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Downtown Jacksonville. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today

Gateway Jax: For Pearl Square to work, it has to be done ‘all at once’

Gateway says the first residential building in Pearl Square could open by September as the total project cost closes in…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Culinary Institute gets show of support for riverfront campus in Jacksonville”

A rendering shows the $160 million hotel, convention center and office project proposed by Corner Lot and investment partner Aspect Holdings LLC on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Culinary Institute gets show of support for riverfront campus in Jacksonville

A City Council committee signaled support for $35 million in incentives to lure the Culinary Institute of America.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Southbank Residences begins construction after years of delays”

An artist's depiction shows the Southbank Residences next to Friendship Fountain in Downtown Jacksonville. | Related Group

Southbank Residences begins construction after years of delays

Southbank Residences represents the first new luxury high-rise on Jacksonville’s riverfront in over a decade.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Second phase of Riverfront Plaza could be completed next year”

An illustration shows the proposed beer garden and restaurant in Riverfront Plaza's second phase. Another restaurant is planned on the western end of Riverfront Plaza. | City of Jacksonville/Perkins & Will

Second phase of Riverfront Plaza could be completed next year

The next phase of Riverfront Plaza will include a beer garden, restaurant, landscaped pathways, a water feature and more.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Riverfront Music Garden debuts along reimagined Northbank Riverwalk”

The new Riverfront Music Garden features walkways shaped like musical notes, plus a large clef-shaped central Riverwalk section. | City of Jacksonville

Riverfront Music Garden debuts along reimagined Northbank Riverwalk

The interactive music garden pays tribute to the many famous musicians who hail from Jacksonville.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “JTA studies Skyway options and postpones community meetings”

Skyway cars move into the LaVilla station of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today

JTA studies Skyway options and postpones community meetings

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority says it will reschedule a second round of meetings.…

By Dan Scanlan

Featured image for “Does Downtown Jacksonville need more office space? Some are betting yes.”

Gateway Jax Inc. wants to build 100,000 square feet of office space in its $750 million Pearl Square development Downtown. | Gateway Jax Inc.

Does Downtown Jacksonville need more office space? Some are betting yes.

Office vacancy rates are higher than most cities, but there still might be a need for high-end space.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Proposed seafood restaurant recommended for Riverfront Plaza”

A Downtown Investment Authority committee voted 3-0 on Thursday to move forward with plans for a restaurant at Riverfront Plaza on the Downtown Northbank. | The Choptank via Jacksonville Daily Record

Proposed seafood restaurant recommended for Riverfront Plaza

A Baltimore restaurant group proposes to operate the restaurant on the park’s southwest corner.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Jacksonville keeps dishing out incentives — but will that change?”

The Mag’s Cafe building is one of two historic building renovations projects the Jacksonville City Council awarded incentives on Tuesday. | Dan Macdonald, Jacksonville Daily Record

Jacksonville keeps dishing out incentives — but will that change?

City lawmakers are growing uncomfortable with the amount of incentives awarded for development.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Permit issued for another phase of Pearl Square”

Gateway Jax's Block N8 will comprise 537 rentals, including 143 short-term units. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Permit issued for another phase of Pearl Square

This portion of the Pearl Square downtown development will include apartments, retail, restaurants, a gym and more.…

By Karen Brune Mathis - Jacksonville Daily Record

A conceptual illustration of the renovated Ambassador Hotel — renamed as Hotel Merrydelle — in Downtown Jacksonville. | Gateway Jax Inc.

The Merrydelle: Historic Ambassador Hotel renamed under Marriott brand

The announcement comes as the city’s design review board gives Hotel Merrydelle its final approval to proceed.…

By Mike Mendenhall

Featured image for “Construction coming soon on Southbank residential tower”

The Related Group’s South Bank Residences is planned on the Downtown Jacksonville Southbank where the River City Brewing Co. restaurant was demolished. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Construction coming soon on Southbank residential tower

Mayor Donna Degan says the Related Group will break ground next month at the former River City Brewery site.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Hotel and convention center proposed at Ford on Bay”

A rendering shows the $160 million hotel, convention center and office project proposed by Corner Lot and investment partner Aspect Holdings LLC on the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville. | Jacksonville Daily Record

Hotel and convention center proposed at Ford on Bay

Corner Lot and Aspect Holdings propose a hotel, convention center and office space at the former Duval courthouse site.…

By Ric Anderson - Jacksonville Daily Record

Featured image for “Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools”

Duval Schools' headquarters building, pictured here in March 2026, was going to be sold to Chase Properties, but the deal collapsed. | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today

Collapsed HQ sale now a ‘legal matter’ for Duval Schools

The HQ sale that fell through last month could now be a legal headache for Duval Schools.…

By Megan Mallicoat

Featured image for “MOSH offers first look at 3 of its planned galleries”

MOSH has released renderings of three of 10 galleries at its planned Northbank museum. This one is called Nature & Culture. | MOSH, Ralph Appelbaum Associates

MOSH offers first look at 3 of its planned galleries

MOSH released illustrations of three galleries as it continues to raise money for a new Northbank museum.…

By Dan Scanlan

Downtown Development

Downtown Development